Selective button holding attachment for sewing machines

ABSTRACT

A selective rotary button holding turret attachment for a power button sewing machine selectively adjustable for holding a predetermined plurality of self shank and metal shank type buttons for the thread sewing operation to fabric positioned under the turret including adjustment means for positioning the turret for the sewing of the selected type buttons to the fabric or other sheet material.

United States Patent Weiss [451 Sept. 26, 1 972 [541 SELECTIVE BUTTONHOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES [72] Inventor: Martin Weiss, 2100SW. 20 Street, Miami, Fla. 33145 [22] Filed: May 12, 1971 [21] Appl.N0.: 142,500

521 Us. CI 112/114 [51 1 Int. Cl. ..D05b 3/00 I58] Field of Search ..l12/108-114 156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,036,534 5/1962Martines ..1 12/1 14 X 3,314,387 4/1967 Johnson et al ..l12/1083,469,546 9/ l 969 Giuliano ..1 12/1 14 3,561,381 2/1971 Weiss ..ll2/114Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-G. V. LarkinAttorney-Lloyd J. Andres [57] ABSTRACT A selective rotary button holdingturret attachment for a power button sewing machine selectivelyadjustable for holding a predetermined plurality of self shank and metalshank type buttons for the thread sewing operation to fabric positionedunder the turret including adjustment means for positioning the turretfor the sewing of the selected type buttons to the fabric or other sheetmaterial.

5'Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.693, 560

sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. MARTIN WEISS FIG.3

PATENTEDSEPZB m2 3.693; 560

' INVENTOR'." MARTIN WEISS SELECTIVE BUTTON HOLDING ATTACHMENT FORSEWING MACHINES This invention relates in general to an attachment forprofessional type sewing machines to selectively hold pluralities ofpredetermined numbers of self shank and metal shank buttons for threadsewing to fabric. This general type button is sometimes referred to asan eye type, or wire loop type.

Prior button sewing machines required a special holding attachment onthe machine for each button of different size or shape used, thereplacement of which attachment was time consuming because of thenecessity of extremely accurate positioning of the holder related toeach button with respect to the sewing needle. Other flat horizontalselective multi-button holders which would accommodate different typesof buttons inherently required large areas in contact with the fabricand prevented the proper snug sewing of the thread on the buttons near aseam or other projections in the fabric or plastic sheet materials used.

It is to be noted that U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,366,109, 2,331,170, 2,753,822,and 2,726,613 all show various button holding means which haveperformance and time consuming limitations overcome by the presentinvention, which includes a multi-position turret for holding each of aselected number of both self shank or wire loop buttons to besuccessively sewed to sheet material.

The present invention presents an angular turret type button holderproviding for a small contact area near the needle, work support whichpermits the buttons to be tightly. secured by the thread in closeproximity to obstructions, such as seams, folds, or other obstructions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a manuallyrotatable self indexing turret adapted to retain apredeterminedplurality of shank type buttons of different size andcharacter with the turret positionedfor detented rotation about an axisat a predetermined angle from horizontal for adjustably presenting acavity, in the turret for accepting a selected stem type buttoncorresponding thereto including detent means forv holding the turret inany one selected position during the threadsewing of a selected numberof like buttons.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an adjustment meanscoupling a turret adapted to hold a predetermined plurality of selecteddifferent stem type buttons for selective rotation about an axis at apredetermined angle with respect to horizontal including adjustmentmeans secured to the outer end portion ofthe turret retaining arm of themachine for positioning with respect to the path of the sewingneedle.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodimentof the inventionare described 'and shown in the followingspecification and drawings, inwhich:

FIG. lis a side elevation of a clamp arm including an angular-turret forpositioning each of a plurality of self shank or metal shank buttons fora power button sewing machine.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a typical self shank button.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the device shown in FIG. I withthe buttonpositioned for sewing to fabric.

FIG. 5' is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken through section line5--5, FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the selective button holding turretassembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a four station selected turret shown in FIG. 1.1

FIG. 8 is the same as FIG. 5 with a different button retained in theturret.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate form of turret.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a clamp arm 1 is pivotally secured to themain base 2 of a power button sewing machine by a shaft 3 supported bytwo bosses 4-4 integral with base 2. A clevis 5, having an integraldownward depending offset 6, is adjustably secured to the outer endportion of arm 1 by screw and washer means 7, thus providing forprecision fore and aft and lateral adjustment of the offset 6. A worksupport 8 is adjustably secured to the base 2 of the machine by screws9-9 through clearance in the support base. A screw 10 threaded intooffset 6 adjustably retains an adjustable turret support 11 includes anintegral conical member 12 positioned with the axis thereof laterallytilted with respect to the arm 1 at a predetermined angle, to behereinafter described. A four station turret member 13, generally ofdual conical shape with the axis thereof coincident with the axis ofmember 12, is retained and mated against the lower side of conicalmember 12 by a screw 22 and a spring 23, shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the device in which a spherical type selfshank button 14, shown in FIG. 3, and having a shank 15 and a hole 16therethrough, is inserted in its fitted predetermined position in theturret and ready to be sewed on fabric placed on the work support 8 whenthe arm 1 is raised, as shown.

Although certain machines have a power operated lever for holding thebutton in position to be sewed, it has been found that since theoperators must place the button in the turret by movement of thefingers, one of the fingers is retained to hold the button in placewhile sewing and not using the above mentioned lever, which saveselapsed time for the stitching of sequential buttons.

Referring to FIG. 6, the exploded view of the turret assembly shows theturret member 13 itself with tapered outside surfaces of small area, tobe hereinafter described. The top side of the turret member is coneshaped to mate with the lower side of the conical member 12, which hasthreads 18 in the central bore therethrough. The conical member also hasa radial needle clearance slot 19 therein, as well as a small downwardformed detent projection 20 which is adapted to engage each of theuniform small detent recesses 21 in the upper side of the turret witheach recess corresponding to a different button cavity.

It is to be noted that each of the four cavities in the periphery of theconical turret are of different shape In operation and referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the nee-' dle end, which reciprocates in a verticaldirection in two paths by the action of the sewing machine, mustproperly align with the work support 8 which must first be accuratelypositioned by means of screws 99. Then the turretmernber is turnedmanually by overcoming the action of the detent 20-2l until the desiredcavity for the desired button is directly over the needle opening in thework support. Then arm '1 is raised and the button inserted in theselected cavity and the entire turret member adjusted with the fabric 26in place on the work support by the adjustment of screws 7 and 10,

shown in FIG. 1 with the arm in its lowered working a position. At thistime, the machine may be operated and the projecting shank on the buttonwill be securely sewed to the fabric 26 by a predetermined number ofstitches.

After one button is attached, with the needle in the upper position,thefabric is moved to any number of positions requiring the applicationof the same size and type button.

HO. 8 is an illustration wherein the turret may be manually turned toaccept a different type button, which has a shank of different size andthe turret member has a cavity to exactly fit the selected size shankwith the conical member providing the upper wall of the cavity and theclamp arm 1 lowered to suit the thickness of the fabric or sheetmaterial'on which' the button is to be sewed.

The area occupied by the underside of each station of the turret is nolarger than the relatively small area of the work support. Hence it isimportant to point out that either the wire loop or the self shank typebutton may be sewed close to other projections, such as seams, lappedfabric or other obstructions. It is also apparent from the above thatthe turret may have a larger number of cavities to accommodate a widerrange of different button shanks.

Referring to FIG. 9, an alternate form of turret 13a has a number ofdifferent shank cavities therein, in which the shank is held between thelower ledges 24a and a mating upper cavity projection 25a, whichconstruction does not depend upon the cone 12 to provide the uppersurface of the cavity, as shown in FIG. 6. The action of the sewingmachine and sewing needle N when threaded is well known and notdescribed in detail, except to note that the turret holds the shank of abutton in a fixed position to be straddled by the threaded needle andthereby sewed to the fabric or sheet material.

It is to be understood that certain modifications in construction areintended to come within the scope and teachings of the abovespecification.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. An attachment for a button sewing machine having a means forming abase including a needle adapted for vertical reciprocation and lateraloscillation in two spaced vertical paths through a work support meanswith a horizontal top surface secured on said base and a button clamparm pivoted on said base with the outer end thereof movable from anupper work loading to a lower work holding position comprising a turretsupport means adjustably secured to the outer end portion of said clamparm for lateral and fore and aft adjustment with respect thereto,

a turret holder secured for vertical adjustment to the outer end of saidsupport means having a cone extending outward therefrom with a centralbore therethrough with the axis thereof normal to said arm and at apredetermined angle with respect to said top surface of said worksupport means including a radial needle clearance slot through the lowerside of said cone,

the outer surfaceof said coneconvergent downward with respect to saidaxis,

a generally circular turret member having a conical upper cavity securedfor mating selective station rotation with the outer surface of saidcone by a fastener means and an upper peripheral margin substantiallynormal the surface of said conical cavity,

a plurality of button shank cavities of different size in spacedrelation around the upper peripheral margin of said turret member forslidably receiving and holding different button shanks thereinrespectively with each said shank held transverse said axis and at anangle substantially equal to the angle of the outer surface of said conewith a small planar surface on the under side of each cavity positionedhorizontally with respect to said axis for selective movement on sheetmaterial on said work support means,

a radial needle clearance slot central and radial with respect to eachcavity whereby said turret may be selectively rotated about said cone toeach of a selected station for the insertion of a predetermined buttonmated to a selected cavity corresponding to said station with the shankportion of the button held between the lower surface in the cavity andthe lower surface of the cone for the passage of the needle on oppositesides of the shank for sewing same on said sheet material placed oversaid work support means when said clamp arm is moved to said lowerposition and said machine is operated. v

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a spring detent meansbetween said cone and said turret member for registering each saidstation and said corresponding button shank on said turret member withsaid needle slot in said cone.

3. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein said turret support meansis fixed to said clamp arm and said turret holder is secured for bothvertical and lateral adjustment with respect to the outer end of saidsupport means.

4. An attachment for a button sewing machine having a means forming abase including a needle adapted for vertical reciprocation and lateraloscillation in two spaced paths through a work support means with ahorizontal top surface secured on said base and a button clamp armpivoted on said base with the outer end thereof movable from an upperwork loading to a lower work holding position comprising a turret holdersecured for vertical and lateral adjustment on the outer end of saidsupport means having a cylindrical bearing means extending outwardtherefrom with a central bore therethrough with the axis thereof normalto said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to the top surface ofsaid work support means including a radial needle clearance slot throughone side of said bearing means,

a generally circular turret member journalled for selective stationrotation on said bearing means with the outer surface retained by afastener means,

a predetermined portion of the upper periphery of 5 mined length in saidturret member of predetermined length centrally intersecting each saidcavity whereby said turret member is rotated to align a selected cavitywith said slot in said bearing means for retaining a button shank of aselected button whereby said button will be sewed to sheet material whensaid button clamp is moved from said loading to said holding positionand said machine is operated.

5. The construction recited in claim 4 wherein said turret member iseccentric with respect to said axis of said bearing means for providinglarger cavities for large shank buttons on one side and small cavitiesfor small shank buttons on the opposite side thereof.

1. An attachment for a button sewing machine having a means forming abase including a needle adapted for vertical reciprocation and lateraloscillation in two spaced vertical paths through a work support meanswith a horizontal top surface secured on said base and a button clamparm pivoted on said base with the outer end thereof movable from anupper work loading to a lower work holding position comprising a turretsupport means adjustably secured to the outer end portion of said clamparm for lateral and fore and aft adjustment with respect thereto, aturret holder secured for vertical adjustment to the outer end of saidsupport means having a cone extending outward therefrom with a centralbore therethrough with the axis thereof normal to said arm and at apredetermined angle with respect to said top surface of said worksupport means including a radial needle clearance slot through the lowerside of said cone, the outer surface of said cone convergent downwardwith respect to said axis, a generally circular turret member having aconical upper cavity secured for mating selective station rotation withthe outer surface of said cone by a fastener means and an upperperipheral margin substantially normal the surface of said conicalcavity, a plurality of button shank cavities of different size in spacedrelation around the upper peripheral margin of said turret member forslidably receiving and holding different button shanks thereinrespectively with each said shank held transverse said axis and at anangle substantially equal to the angle of the outer surface of said conewith a small planar surface on the under side of each cavity positionedhorizontally with respect to said axis for selective movement on sheetmaterial on said work support means, a radial needle clearance slotcentral and radial with respect to each cavitY whereby said turret maybe selectively rotated about said cone to each of a selected station forthe insertion of a predetermined button mated to a selected cavitycorresponding to said station with the shank portion of the button heldbetween the lower surface in the cavity and the lower surface of thecone for the passage of the needle on opposite sides of the shank forsewing same on said sheet material placed over said work support meanswhen said clamp arm is moved to said lower position and said machine isoperated.
 2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a springdetent means between said cone and said turret member for registeringeach said station and said corresponding button shank on said turretmember with said needle slot in said cone.
 3. The construction recitedin claim 1 wherein said turret support means is fixed to said clamp armand said turret holder is secured for both vertical and lateraladjustment with respect to the outer end of said support means.
 4. Anattachment for a button sewing machine having a means forming a baseincluding a needle adapted for vertical reciprocation and lateraloscillation in two spaced paths through a work support means with ahorizontal top surface secured on said base and a button clamp armpivoted on said base with the outer end thereof movable from an upperwork loading to a lower work holding position comprising a turret holdersecured for vertical and lateral adjustment on the outer end of saidsupport means having a cylindrical bearing means extending outwardtherefrom with a central bore therethrough with the axis thereof normalto said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to the top surface ofsaid work support means including a radial needle clearance slot throughone side of said bearing means, a generally circular turret memberjournalled for selective station rotation on said bearing means with theouter surface retained by a fastener means, a predetermined portion ofthe upper periphery of said turret member at a predetermined angle withrespect to the axis of rotation thereof, a plurality of radial cavitiesof different size in spaced relation around said periphery in radialrelation with each one of said cavities adapted to retain acorresponding different selected shank of a button, a planar smallangular surface with respect to said axis under each cavity for parallelmating relation with the surface of said support means, an open radialneedle clearance slot of predetermined length in said turret member ofpredetermined length centrally intersecting each said cavity wherebysaid turret member is rotated to align a selected cavity with said slotin said bearing means for retaining a button shank of a selected buttonwhereby said button will be sewed to sheet material when said buttonclamp is moved from said loading to said holding position and saidmachine is operated.
 5. The construction recited in claim 4 wherein saidturret member is eccentric with respect to said axis of said bearingmeans for providing larger cavities for large shank buttons on one sideand small cavities for small shank buttons on the opposite side thereof.